Prince William Criticized Over Tom Cruise’s Kate Middleton Gesture

Prince William is facing criticism after Tom Cruise offered Kate Middleton a helping hand during the world premiere of his new movie, “Digger.” The Hollywood star held the Princess of Wales’ hand and carefully guided her down a flight of stairs inside London’s ODEON Luxe Leicester Square. William was nearby, but some social media users questioned why Kate’s husband was not the one assisting her. The moment drew even more attention because it wasn’t the first time Cruise had extended his hand to the princess at one of his premieres.

Tom Cruise Holds Kate Middleton’s Hand At ‘Digger’ Premiere

William and Kate, both 44, joined Cruise, 64, and several other stars at the September 22 premiere of “Digger,” the actor’s new dark comedy directed by Alejandro González Iñárritu. The Prince and Princess of Wales walked the red carpet before meeting cast and creative team members. However, one of the night’s most widely discussed moments occurred as the group made its way down the theater’s stairs.

Cruise reached out to Kate, who accepted his hand as he guided her down the steps. The Sun described the actor as a “gentleman” for offering his assistance. Footage of the interaction quickly circulated online, where attention soon shifted from Cruise’s manners to William’s apparent lack of involvement.

Prince William Branded ‘Not A Gentleman’

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A Reddit post sharing the footage accused William of failing to help his wife. The discussion attracted several sharply worded reactions about the future king’s behavior.

“William is not a gentleman,” one commenter declared. Another viewer argued that it took “a special kind of skill to make Tom Cruise appear the better man,” while someone else said the actor made up for his lack of height with “manners.”

One user also told William to “step up” and questioned why Cruise appeared more attentive to Kate on the stairs than her own husband. The reactions represented individual interpretations of a brief public interaction. There is no indication that Kate was upset with William or needed assistance to descend the steps.

Fans Compare Tom Cruise And Prince William

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Several commenters believed the contrast between the two men made William look particularly bad.

“Tom at least recognizes the importance of appearances and looking chivalrous,” one person wrote, noting that Cruise has remained relevant partly because he understands the importance of maintaining his public image. Another commenter claimed that William was “so bad” he made Cruise “look like a saint,” while a third alleged that William did not even look toward Kate as the actor escorted her down the stairs. Others expanded the discussion beyond the premiere and accused the Prince of Wales of habitually walking ahead of his wife during public appearances.

Not Everyone Thought Kate Middleton Needed Help

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The criticism was not unanimous. One Reddit user pointed out that Kate is “a full grown woman” who can navigate stairs without assistance. The commenter suggested Cruise may have been behaving “over the top” because he enjoyed the opportunity to be seen helping a member of the royal family. The princess also appeared comfortable throughout the exchange and willingly accepted Cruise’s hand. Nothing about the interaction suggested tension among the three.

William, Kate and Cruise posed together and appeared in good spirits during the event. People described the evening as a glamorous reunion between the royal couple and the Hollywood star.

Tom Cruise Previously Helped Kate Middleton In 2022

The latest interaction recalled a nearly identical moment at the London premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick” in May 2022. Cruise offered Kate his hand as she walked up a set of stairs while wearing a fitted black-and-white Roland Mouret gown. The gesture earned the actor praise at the time, although it also generated debate about whether touching a royal breached protocol.

The Blast previously reported that Cruise escorted the then-Duchess of Cambridge up the stairs while William adjusted his jacket and tie. Four years later, Cruise’s decision to help Kate again has renewed that conversation, only this time, much of the attention has fallen on William. The premiere still seemed like a friendly reunion. William and Cruise share an interest in aviation, while the prince serves as president of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. “Digger,” which stars Cruise as an oil tycoon whose actions unleash an environmental catastrophe, is scheduled to arrive in theaters in October. For some viewers, however, the movie was not the biggest talking point of the night. It was seeing Cruise once again extend his hand to Kate while her husband stood nearby.